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Celebrate Mardi Gras at the Best Parties in San Diego

Another Mardi Gras is fast approaching and San Diego has some of the best parties this side of the Mississippi. Mardi Gras is French for ‘Fat Tuesday’ and refers to the Carnivalesque celebrations – as well as the last night of eating rich, fatty foods – that take place prior to the fasting season of Lent. Festivities usually include a variety of various food and drink, the donning of brightly colored masks and costumes, dancing, sports competitions, and parades. There are a few cities that are particularly known for their extraordinarily extravagant celebrations, such as Mobile, Alabama, New Orleans, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
If you’re going to be celebrating Mardi Gras in San Diego and you live in La Jolla, remember to plan ahead for transportation to avoid drinking and driving! We’ve outlined a list of some go-to taxi, limo, and bus/train services near and around La Jolla.

San Diego definitely has its own unique and colorful Mardi Gras style. Start planning now and get all the information you need to have a fantastic 2014 Mardi Gras! Here’s a quick look at everything that’s going on downtown and elsewhere on Fat Tuesday:

Annual Brazilian Mardi Gras Carnival

When: Saturday March 1st, 8:30PM – 1:30AM

Where: 379 4th Avenue

What: Party Under the Stars! Enjoy a full bar and dance floor, a Rio de Janeiro Samba Show, music performances by Brazilian singers, capoeira performances with acrobatic martial arts, music, and dance, and rhythmic African dance & percussion shows! Get even more entertainment and exotic cocktails with a Rio Lounge Admission ticket, or bottle service and Mardi Gras goodies with a Full Access VIP Ticket!

How Much? General admission starts at $25; Rio Lounge Deck at $49 and VIP at $99.

Gaslamp San Diego Mardi Gras

When: Tuesday March 4th, 5PM – Midnight.

Where: Market & Fifth Street, Downtown San Diego

What: Live DJs, dancers on themed stages, tons of food and drinks, and entertainment galore! And no Mardi Gras would be complete without a parade – at 9:30, the Big Easy Parade kicks off with more live performances and traditional New Orleans-like floats.

How Much? General admission tickets start at $30.
Club VIP Nightlife Passports start at $60 (No cover & priority
admission to all Gaslamp Mardi Gras parties, exclusive Parade
Viewing Party at the Gran Turismo Club, Club Access to After Parties until 2am, and more.)

What: Enjoy a nighttime dance party, gourmet food vendors, street performers, an outdoor nightclub, DJs, and for the first time ever, an all ages Parade! Check out their crazy stilt walkers, flying trapeze performers, and fire dancers all while enjoying delicious food and drinks!

How Much? General Admission starts at $20. VIP Access starts at $50.

Head over to sandiego.org to purchase tickets. Don’t forget to share, post and engage with the La Jolla community by using hashtag #LaJollaBB!

Emily Ruchlewicz is a News and Feature writer at Blue Book Publishers and has written more than 100 La Jolla-related articles. Follow her blogs to stay informed about new businesses, read exclusive interviews with local business owners, and keep up with community events. (emily@lajollabluebook.com)

About Emily Ruchlewicz

Emily Ruchlewicz is a News and Feature writer at Blue Book Publishers and has written more than 100 La Jolla-related articles. Follow her blogs to stay informed about new businesses, read exclusive interviews with local business owners, and keep up with community events. (emily@lajollabluebook.com)

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